LLC won their first meeting this season by three points. Cutting into the lead one possession at a time, the Warriors finally went up 60-59 with back-to-back free throw makes by sophomore forward Bronson Verhines (Woodlawn, Ill.). RLC kept up its inside wall on defense, forcing Lake Land outside. The Lakers, who drew buckets from the three-point well often in the first half, found it empty down the stretch.

When forced to the line in the waning minutes, RLC responded with a 7-10 performance from Verhines, freshman forward Montez Buford (Louisville, Ky.), and guard Cortez Macklin (Louisville, Ky.) Macklin hit his only two free throws of the game to grab a four-point lead with 2.9 seconds on the clock. He led the Warriors with 18 points. Buford had 14 and Stephon Bryant (Louisville, Ky.) had 10. Lake Land's Harold McBride, Jr., led all scorers with 22.

RLC Head Coach Randy House said he was happy with his team's desire and composure in the second half.

"Cortez [Macklin] got, Corey [Ayala] got going, and Montez Buford ... all the guys in the second half, when we needed big shots, [came through]," said House. "We weren't going to get it all back at once. That's what the assistant coaches told them. ... We've got to chip away. Our demeanor doesn't chang much on the floor. Thats one of the things I'm really pleased about with these kids. Whether we are up 15 or down 15, we kind of play with the same demeanor. We don't put pressure on ourselves and hurry things. We just kind of continue to do what needs to be done."

What needs to be done next is a win at Lincoln Trail on Feb. 2. The win over Lake Land on Wednesday is RLC's seventh-straight. Ranked seventh in the nation among NJCAA DII programs, the Warriors now move ahead of Lake Land in the conference standings, and are tied for second in the league with John A. Logan College. RLC has an overall record of 15-2 and is 7-2 in the GRAC.

For all things athletic at The Lake, visit RLC online at www.rlc.edu/warriors.